Mushroom Madness + Post Of The Month Club

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In England, we are definitely having an 'Indian Summer' right now - a welcome warm spell</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcgxy6JpuUwC5YB_xrw279f5cPDz5VmxRbN8dTX051tET4M2DB0a1QFGP_yUOeajPup7ldS0o97NXdZHF8yyCNTQqO-hIlafMgNwonSC85vqmI8CXzSVlwuIN7eK386curGK6fn7buJs/s1600/DSCN5065-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcgxy6JpuUwC5YB_xrw279f5cPDz5VmxRbN8dTX051tET4M2DB0a1QFGP_yUOeajPup7ldS0o97NXdZHF8yyCNTQqO-hIlafMgNwonSC85vqmI8CXzSVlwuIN7eK386curGK6fn7buJs/s640/DSCN5065-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was surprised to hear the English use the term 'Indian Summer',</div><div style="text-align: center;">for I always assumed the phrase was a Native American reference</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But maybe they are referring to the country of India where it is hotter?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Living here often tests what I think to be true...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_summer">wiki-ed</a>' it, and sure enough, </div><div style="text-align: center;">'Indian Summer' is an American colloquialism that jumped across the Atlantic</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only am I doing the 'happy dance' about the sunny warm weather<br />but also for the annual autumn return of</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">{ the magical Fly Agaric Toadstool }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipov9QPiAK7fr15HAJHQt21PTD93RL9D_mhNRC9mdF2N_o92R-H9FGOu5sQMkEsywn92g_ButdvjMmEX3Km1AYNJF4mrigYlsMX4BAXcpQyiC0HAWIGEIFn4iCA9v7ahIuRzx-FMswcIE/s1600/DSC_0024-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipov9QPiAK7fr15HAJHQt21PTD93RL9D_mhNRC9mdF2N_o92R-H9FGOu5sQMkEsywn92g_ButdvjMmEX3Km1AYNJF4mrigYlsMX4BAXcpQyiC0HAWIGEIFn4iCA9v7ahIuRzx-FMswcIE/s640/DSC_0024-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I had assumed these only existed in fairy tales, until last year when</div><div style="text-align: center;">I nearly peed in my pants when I stumbled upon my <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2010/10/operation-big-red-mushroom.html">first ones</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As large as saucers, these toadstools are as poisonous as they are beautiful</div><div style="text-align: center;">Traditionally, pieces of the mushroom were floated in milk to attract & kill flies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Not that you would eat one, but if you did<br />you'd find yourself with stomach cramps, hallucinations, or worse<br />{oh my}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is how the Fly Agaric peeks its head as it emerges</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aPlvstZlvClf9ZFIu-wmMQqQGm7gU8vL0q4fA-fY-KIrrWfBru2nvdcU2H-rettFkFcwD07zaOlyKZxTCfmQgYCNRKd9hyDPnz6VxxtLwKpTZowmmx42G4lbGQ_GgEFF40wD37Lhk4Q/s1600/DSC_0008-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aPlvstZlvClf9ZFIu-wmMQqQGm7gU8vL0q4fA-fY-KIrrWfBru2nvdcU2H-rettFkFcwD07zaOlyKZxTCfmQgYCNRKd9hyDPnz6VxxtLwKpTZowmmx42G4lbGQ_GgEFF40wD37Lhk4Q/s640/DSC_0008-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As it ages, its top becomes concave and serves as a bowl for catching rain water</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you just love nature and all the multi-layers it offers throughout the year?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is another beauty I spied in the woods</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I won't use the word 'forest' for it is actually<i> a legal term</i> - who knew?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXKWKa9yqMlLpzaJ2CR55Nycsbff0qMlh2-3zgu_cIIL7sg7eGNDXsIiwePMYLDUKDfKo-CyuChcSvGM9kb7HnuR9ozXxRL9a1CErMHlx3T_U3LFmglrUieCTAtgJnxzM3jUPB3A3ys0/s1600/DSCN5189-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXKWKa9yqMlLpzaJ2CR55Nycsbff0qMlh2-3zgu_cIIL7sg7eGNDXsIiwePMYLDUKDfKo-CyuChcSvGM9kb7HnuR9ozXxRL9a1CErMHlx3T_U3LFmglrUieCTAtgJnxzM3jUPB3A3ys0/s640/DSCN5189-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to lift my camera up to capture these lovelies<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This ancient beech tree reminds me of the tree from the film 'Avatar'</div><div style="text-align: center;">To be honest, I don't have a sufficient wide-angle lens to capture its grandeur</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for tromping through heath and woods with me :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>---</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Welcome to our September Post Of The Month Club!</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">I am pleased as punch you are here :)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Time for our meet & greet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Bloggers, just link up your best post of the month *</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>And see, you've already done the work</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Share the love by dropping by a few other blogs and say 'hi',<br />if you can *</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Would my nifty button be a nice addition to your lovely sidebar or post? *</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a><center></center></center><br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />Yep, we'll do this the last day of each month</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Don't forget to become a follower here too *</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Don't be shy<br />Jump in :)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Happy October Blogging, you ray of autumn sunshine, you</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">P.S. I have family in town, so I may be delayed in reading your post<br />but I will drop by in the next few days :)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>  <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=109460" type="text/javascript"></script>

Mushroom Madness + Post Of The Month Club

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKIn England, we are definitely having an 'Indian Summer' right now - a welcome warm spellI was surprised to hear the English use the term 'Indian Summer',for I always assumed the phrase was a Native American referenceBut maybe they are referring to the country of India whe…

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Work in progress...

Just a quick update on the <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2011/09/blank-canvas.html">commission for the lovely H</a>. Here's a little look at the underpainting as of last last week, although it's come along significantly since then. I'll share the finished painting as soon as it's signed, sealed and delivered, but until then, here's a snippet:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONeTnCAoEZWDOD0CKsRm4x2hLPi-_O2BtjSSaUknOPHLhCbwkIh2x0Qyty9IzJgWCB5D8hyphenhyphen6F88Asn4iLwcyR6Yv2wmQuiUGeypumdccrdU2aUUpV2bbyNApTA52VNkLBe46uW4Vex5mg/s1600/abstract+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONeTnCAoEZWDOD0CKsRm4x2hLPi-_O2BtjSSaUknOPHLhCbwkIh2x0Qyty9IzJgWCB5D8hyphenhyphen6F88Asn4iLwcyR6Yv2wmQuiUGeypumdccrdU2aUUpV2bbyNApTA52VNkLBe46uW4Vex5mg/s640/abstract+crop.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />I'm making a huge mess, but it's so much fun working big again. I'll be adding some of these larger works to the exhibition I'm having later this year too, so stay tuned for updates.<br /><br />Back to work now, catch you soon,<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Work in progress...

Just a quick update on the commission for the lovely H. Here's a little look at the underpainting as of last last week, although it's come along significantly since then. I'll share the finished painting as soon as it's signed, sealed and delivered, but until then, here's a snippet:I'm making a huge…

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Obscure Gardens: World Garden Of Plants & Tom Hart Dyke

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I first learned of Tom Hart Dyke when I happened to pick up a book at a book fair,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Englishmans-Home-Adventures-Eccentric-Gardener/dp/0593056981/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317095208&sr=8-2">An Englishman's Home: The Adventures of an Eccentric Gardener</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this fascinating book (and quick read), </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tom tells of a problem he shares with other families </div><div style="text-align: center;">who have been bequeathed castles and manors in England-</div><div style="text-align: center;">they are incredibly expensive to maintain</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To my absolute delight, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I met Tom this week</div><div style="text-align: center;">and toured the World Garden of Plants at his home in Kent</div><div style="text-align: center;">{squeal!}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItf0lxw93xvfzikbp82z6Onz2qFb_wnmfQXCtxLHTjWcMzTvN3OcxiUhWWgmX7YKmtQYBqz_e3Wel6-xKNy2gt5uTg07yllWc8TF143lbFsmV474HRFgcMQHlu5XxykMBxnqq_JRCEbA/s1600/DSC_0054-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItf0lxw93xvfzikbp82z6Onz2qFb_wnmfQXCtxLHTjWcMzTvN3OcxiUhWWgmX7YKmtQYBqz_e3Wel6-xKNy2gt5uTg07yllWc8TF143lbFsmV474HRFgcMQHlu5XxykMBxnqq_JRCEbA/s640/DSC_0054-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lullingstone Castle Estate, Kent</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me just say his excitement and enthusiasm </div><div style="text-align: center;">for life and plants was infectious! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Think of a '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin">Steve Irwin</a>' about plants</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHe8rVUuhB5a8JHHobkGStAKnNjjswLVgY56wOySwG-VwjgNZ6iZh-I8jc31VGFD41aPkeGdukKdW3y4zfh0OFSDHRHGLdils42QZoAcSe4lOV40DtI5A_7Uw-t6TxoKkxbHf5PzJWCM/s1600/DSC_0121-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHe8rVUuhB5a8JHHobkGStAKnNjjswLVgY56wOySwG-VwjgNZ6iZh-I8jc31VGFD41aPkeGdukKdW3y4zfh0OFSDHRHGLdils42QZoAcSe4lOV40DtI5A_7Uw-t6TxoKkxbHf5PzJWCM/s640/DSC_0121-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom holds his discovery from SW Tasmania, 'Varnished Gum' (Eucalyptus vernicosa), <br />the smallest eucalyptus species known to mankind</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While on an orchid hunting expedition in 2000 in the Darien Gap, Columbia, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tom was kidnapped and held for 9 months by guerrillas</div><div style="text-align: center;">and miraculously released for Christmas without an explanation as to why </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Although he wrote a ransom note home, it never arrived)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Incredibly, as the first gun was thrust at his temple </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tom was hit with the idea of creating a World Garden </div><div style="text-align: center;">as a way to blend his botanical passion<br />with a potential tourist attraction to save his Lullingstone Castle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd9lAX7V4rjpIK2JAoBF-uupYtpBVB4wdZeGHqxOvwNFoguIe9bHahYa590zmyUCkFmSltCGoTjjMdQOQSxizPoujzgZyBNAkyyg2TsoqJaoe5mqRCjBK5-QCoN2dqcj7a0n-uaF-wEY/s1600/DSCN5336-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd9lAX7V4rjpIK2JAoBF-uupYtpBVB4wdZeGHqxOvwNFoguIe9bHahYa590zmyUCkFmSltCGoTjjMdQOQSxizPoujzgZyBNAkyyg2TsoqJaoe5mqRCjBK5-QCoN2dqcj7a0n-uaF-wEY/s640/DSCN5336-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plants you may have in your garden that originated from Africa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Six years and 10,000 plants later,<br />the World Garden has flower beds roughly in the shape of the continents</div><div style="text-align: center;">with plant species, cultivars, and hybrids planted in their country of origin<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is an educational botanical map within a 2 acre walled garden<br />and a nod to the Victorian and Edwardian plant hunters of the past<br /><br />{did you know almost 80% of plants in England are non-native?}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Tom is plant hunting,</div><div style="text-align: center;">he brings back just seeds and grows them once home<br /><br />{he generously welcomed us to take any seeds we saw in the garden}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And although most of his seeds were destroyed by his kidnappers in Columbia</div><div style="text-align: center;">he did keep a few, such as this Banana Passionflower</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3X9qAF0MmMPn_kgVNnv4IxQxi7aG1T87mAs8GaIS8wYZ4uxQtZLtOaSULVo1LPc0mQVyMqZaPdFXLiGMgX892I9W1upbwVOyE4LjQ5z4RYuJMQDNeBXdFgYABuXojhIZ7_KQPPgh_yM/s1600/DSCN5333-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3X9qAF0MmMPn_kgVNnv4IxQxi7aG1T87mAs8GaIS8wYZ4uxQtZLtOaSULVo1LPc0mQVyMqZaPdFXLiGMgX892I9W1upbwVOyE4LjQ5z4RYuJMQDNeBXdFgYABuXojhIZ7_KQPPgh_yM/s640/DSCN5333-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This week is the first time Tom's Banana Passionflower has ever bloomed<br />from seed collected during his fateful trip to Columbia eleven years ago!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As Tom 'hunts', he collects seeds from plants he thinks have a high ornamental value</div><div style="text-align: center;">- simply for the love of it, not for the fortune or fame -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, he has buckets of plants that he has not yet named,</div><div style="text-align: center;">for naming them doesn't really interest him</div><div style="text-align: center;">He just enjoys collecting them :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But such a magnetic aura cannot go unnoticed:</div><div style="text-align: center;">so far he has been featured in KEO films, BBC, and PBS documentaries</div><div style="text-align: center;">And THE Kew Gardens just paid him a visit and were 'wowed' by his collection</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can imagine, nature is creating new varieties of plants in Tom's garden<br />as pollinators span 'the continents'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriEhrYh-Ozj6N4lcl3P6Qc2OalaFmAEZhbJZLAMVkgRi98gnKDSgp7S8X_KkVW5dq4jwBspC7DXpYHl0JknU7fd27QnRp6rZenLM4j7Jr_SF2kJJh7_P64rADJoGIpg8coHeVAdGzrDs/s1600/DSCN5321-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriEhrYh-Ozj6N4lcl3P6Qc2OalaFmAEZhbJZLAMVkgRi98gnKDSgp7S8X_KkVW5dq4jwBspC7DXpYHl0JknU7fd27QnRp6rZenLM4j7Jr_SF2kJJh7_P64rADJoGIpg8coHeVAdGzrDs/s640/DSCN5321-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All sunflowers originated in North America - who knew?!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A family affair, his mother and sister served our group tea and biscuits</div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt I already knew them from the book; it was such a pleasure to meet these lovely people!</div><br />Tom's next plant expedition may take him to Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa<br />He is crazy passionate about cacti at the moment</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Being a Plant Hunter his hardly an extinct profession in England<br />There are still quite a few that will risk life and limb in pursuit of plants<br /><br />Don't you just love the possible story behind each flower we see in the garden?<br />Tom Hart Dyke certainly has a doozy :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">More information :: <a href="http://www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk/">Lullingstone Castle</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tom's books :: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cloud-Garden-Tom-Hart-Dyke/dp/0552165719/ref=pd_sim_b1">The Cloud Garden</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Englishmans-Home-Adventures-Eccentric-Gardener/dp/0593056981/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_4">An Englishman's Home: The Adventures of an Eccentric Gardener</a></span><br /><br />More 'Obscure Gardens' Posts<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/09/obscure-gardens-kew-at-wakehurst.html">Kew at Wakehurst</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Time for another Post Of The Month Club day - yea! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is a great way for bloggers promote their best work</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and a place to meet & greet</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Join me Friday, September 30th</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yep, right here :)</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a><center><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">(more details <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-of-month-club-linky-party.html" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">here</a>)</div></div></center></center></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Obscure Gardens: World Garden Of Plants & Tom Hart Dyke

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKI first learned of Tom Hart Dyke when I happened to pick up a book at a book fair,An Englishman's Home: The Adventures of an Eccentric GardenerIn this fascinating book (and quick read), Tom tells of a problem he shares with other families who have been bequeathed castles …

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Peace out

It's school holidays in this part of the world, and I managed to squeeze in a long-overdue trip to the beach last week. It was a gorgeous sunny day on the sunshine coast, with a warm breeze, and lots of seafood for lunch.....doesn't get much better than that.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY4N6Ky-16GKsbaaXzLcFZyxrqvkg1aqhhjCDpyQGs0-WbRF90zoHESJZI5yqA9FYguajp53jc_WdSu0pgLOfqbX-QjfeQOpVgcbIPJF48O-Bc7vu_KjJzOfp1d4bDEYdM9618EdI2yVv/s1600/beach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY4N6Ky-16GKsbaaXzLcFZyxrqvkg1aqhhjCDpyQGs0-WbRF90zoHESJZI5yqA9FYguajp53jc_WdSu0pgLOfqbX-QjfeQOpVgcbIPJF48O-Bc7vu_KjJzOfp1d4bDEYdM9618EdI2yVv/s640/beach2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPf_DerO2bUR55Vs8snjmrgChdtTKZ_P-QpKWgVQcN5nhGk2onbX9s_PTR2hPGKH0wPa7YhTrHArTRm8XKxtdVUs7PnEuaxiOsybecKuWlKYWZIzimRHI33_iKWiwxn1hWBPjkdToo8VA/s1600/beach3crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPf_DerO2bUR55Vs8snjmrgChdtTKZ_P-QpKWgVQcN5nhGk2onbX9s_PTR2hPGKH0wPa7YhTrHArTRm8XKxtdVUs7PnEuaxiOsybecKuWlKYWZIzimRHI33_iKWiwxn1hWBPjkdToo8VA/s640/beach3crop.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">yep, that's the Mr - shy little wallflower that he is :)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKazcAmbp6XY9F576Tghh8bGWRNogi2EZ-b68EwwMSngvtN6SxP5YRGNYxELQBRs5-iD3qCtDbjY6DursQcET-7Xbqz2x6gmUtAteHiCkxlvqm7SRgHqAExqTil3opnYm2eIEmWRvEmGb/s1600/beach1+crop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKazcAmbp6XY9F576Tghh8bGWRNogi2EZ-b68EwwMSngvtN6SxP5YRGNYxELQBRs5-iD3qCtDbjY6DursQcET-7Xbqz2x6gmUtAteHiCkxlvqm7SRgHqAExqTil3opnYm2eIEmWRvEmGb/s640/beach1+crop2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />But back to the coalface now - I have a painting to finish! I'll be back with an update soon.<br /><br />Catch you then,<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Peace out

It's school holidays in this part of the world, and I managed to squeeze in a long-overdue trip to the beach last week. It was a gorgeous sunny day on the sunshine coast, with a warm breeze, and lots of seafood for lunch.....doesn't get much better than that.yep, that's the Mr - shy little wallflowe…

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Obscure Gardens: Kew At Wakehurst

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Call me crazy</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I had been DYING to visit </div><div style="text-align: center;">the Wakehurst Millennium Seed Bank for over a year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">located near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlME4Cyy192oisxEsvJQMl3_uc7SPEwaqu6m9vmV51wWruQ15FBo9eRfodrDtYliR2JazUUvCOPojBZdgU8DYi8ZJCtVj_7BAbzp-_jMevQr0W3BF1rJT9AAaPfVm7PoLPYpmwiHqqNE/s1600/DSCN5240-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlME4Cyy192oisxEsvJQMl3_uc7SPEwaqu6m9vmV51wWruQ15FBo9eRfodrDtYliR2JazUUvCOPojBZdgU8DYi8ZJCtVj_7BAbzp-_jMevQr0W3BF1rJT9AAaPfVm7PoLPYpmwiHqqNE/s640/DSCN5240-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a joint venture with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (their 'country garden')</div><div style="text-align: center;">and National Trust's most visited property, Wakehurst Place</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I had no idea what to expect</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I was a happy little bee with what I saw </div><div style="text-align: center;">(and I only had time to see <i>half</i> of it)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- woodlands, heath, bogs, lakes, walled gardens, Elizabethan house, and 'THE' Seed Bank -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2u4aO7RPN5NeX2XTwvTjFRp2mgS0Qq2sJC4G-2EnS6PMUKt1QxsygvUXHcLsUrpTDRPlvxnl8ErHCbqi9mQgTzzgXcuxXUc8cSTwuNgCj9jTjLGGR_jMyV4duVjs-LCN24jdE3k_N9s/s1600/DSC_0019-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2u4aO7RPN5NeX2XTwvTjFRp2mgS0Qq2sJC4G-2EnS6PMUKt1QxsygvUXHcLsUrpTDRPlvxnl8ErHCbqi9mQgTzzgXcuxXUc8cSTwuNgCj9jTjLGGR_jMyV4duVjs-LCN24jdE3k_N9s/s640/DSC_0019-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's cyclamen</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wakehurst is home to an EXTRAORDINARY collection of flora</div><div style="text-align: center;">from the remotest corners of the world</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have never seen such an extensive living collection of rare and endangered species</div><div style="text-align: center;">and so beautifully landscaped<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a FEAST for my little floral heart</div><div style="text-align: center;">{ pitter patter }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7bOcOL92E63Q60e6PPJoNjDNl2Gi315zvK4zNX3ibWI1_WBSpDMteqVqBbDAKMl5ILDUMHW-VaXDiNc0VCF8bIVRivAXlosAG4fyJyJKyVwu6FYXPRRPHLH-fZQ9cZ5VGffrVyWcGic/s1600/DSC_0085-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7bOcOL92E63Q60e6PPJoNjDNl2Gi315zvK4zNX3ibWI1_WBSpDMteqVqBbDAKMl5ILDUMHW-VaXDiNc0VCF8bIVRivAXlosAG4fyJyJKyVwu6FYXPRRPHLH-fZQ9cZ5VGffrVyWcGic/s640/DSC_0085-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Such a revolutionary idea:<br /><br />The Millennium Seed Bank safeguards almost 2 billion seeds<br />from more than 30,000 species of wild plants from 140 countries -<br />often bearers of the world's food supply, medicine, shelter, and livelihoods<br /><br />So far, they have successfully collected 10 percent of the world's plant species<br />They target to conserve a quarter of the world's plant species by 2020<br /><br />After local collection and transportation to the MSB,<br />seeds are classified, dried, and then x-rayed to make sure they have the most viable seeds<br /><br />Storage may be in freezer vaults of -20 degrees Celsius<br />or cryogenically preserved in liquid nitrogen at a mere -196 degrees Celsius<br /><br />Germination experiments determine the best way to store and bring seeds to life<br />And seeds are often stored in their local country as well for safekeeping<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhKpLKp2lL0bu_EGD5R4-SkyJt__Q5p5-wn6AYIwpvW56dIDwQZcZykL6mGHoggrIKI9Sbb86l6siw_4HAY_segYAz7EQ0mbR_qpNFeIKRsEicOHwqVXUP3eecTh7qkP2Z75R_A9sN2w/s1600/September+2011-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhKpLKp2lL0bu_EGD5R4-SkyJt__Q5p5-wn6AYIwpvW56dIDwQZcZykL6mGHoggrIKI9Sbb86l6siw_4HAY_segYAz7EQ0mbR_qpNFeIKRsEicOHwqVXUP3eecTh7qkP2Z75R_A9sN2w/s640/September+2011-1.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can actually see in the windowed labs</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is definitely a working garden and laboratory with people busy working in front and behind the scenes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Wakehurst not only stores seeds but also cultivates & plants them on the grounds<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuEWjn6m_xO_C-yhueiajk0ImwwlSxbdEIl9jcvEKhqAjyBwoQSzbM0Zjoxo90vucpPO88yUHzEjj2HLIuXTgja0JkOgV7rY5oL87kSEI-eLE056vOVIQ28kYDgxMnH6qteVyK3thfDw/s1600/DSCN5243-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuEWjn6m_xO_C-yhueiajk0ImwwlSxbdEIl9jcvEKhqAjyBwoQSzbM0Zjoxo90vucpPO88yUHzEjj2HLIuXTgja0JkOgV7rY5oL87kSEI-eLE056vOVIQ28kYDgxMnH6qteVyK3thfDw/s640/DSCN5243-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visitors can browse one of the nurseries</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />And like a plant explorer, I had my own dangers...<br /><br />I had to cover my head while taking this photograph,<br />for the old oak tree above me was 'raining' acorns like hail<br />(it happened earlier while driving too, in fear of breaking a windshield)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hrHszGZzbT_Np2suWti0__fQ9IMaLlEzSIUdpJPWWVmh6iOYgXQqeUFNr7LUKNT6yz6Y99PZjkJ9VPDmjmQXMrPQDyf1UU65LConfk4VcAG7IRLumYnt5Ay4PYlXSVQUJnTj-bu1IgU/s1600/DSC_0041-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hrHszGZzbT_Np2suWti0__fQ9IMaLlEzSIUdpJPWWVmh6iOYgXQqeUFNr7LUKNT6yz6Y99PZjkJ9VPDmjmQXMrPQDyf1UU65LConfk4VcAG7IRLumYnt5Ay4PYlXSVQUJnTj-bu1IgU/s640/DSC_0041-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A working garden</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not surprisingly, they also conduct honeybee research here<br /><br />Can you see the beehive behind the beautiful, living willow screen? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziNdtMhGPMmW_t5hQtdhoZIAeBjtg6VXJ3oWpu6TTJnoGwRZdpnD6_lyMJR1j2JboC7cmmKiQ5NeXiTQAB52S5oUopdMxYvDpASempdhx0JOYk1BGHBxRUpML2W6MpWMy9MCcNtn2D20/s1600/DSC_0058-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziNdtMhGPMmW_t5hQtdhoZIAeBjtg6VXJ3oWpu6TTJnoGwRZdpnD6_lyMJR1j2JboC7cmmKiQ5NeXiTQAB52S5oUopdMxYvDpASempdhx0JOYk1BGHBxRUpML2W6MpWMy9MCcNtn2D20/s640/DSC_0058-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beehives</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As there are reminders of WWII dotted throughout England,<br />this sign shows a wartime subterranean communication room under my feet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The tree has an odd looking line in it - </div><div style="text-align: center;">this is a wire from the communication center</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOhwDBJWi76k4ZsufmjsVFmolBOdwSIL3ubukIL_w9ByAcMCb-5lrY3Tfugzfi1ISueBaYWUmi2W6jsGo25Nuf01gcm5GC1E5Zpp08nFOR-9c3xXWS7l1OX1bimEvdsJvZ56McRUIeuI/s1600/September+20111-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOhwDBJWi76k4ZsufmjsVFmolBOdwSIL3ubukIL_w9ByAcMCb-5lrY3Tfugzfi1ISueBaYWUmi2W6jsGo25Nuf01gcm5GC1E5Zpp08nFOR-9c3xXWS7l1OX1bimEvdsJvZ56McRUIeuI/s640/September+20111-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WWII 'Wartime Secret'</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I just had to throw in a few photos of the Elizabethan Home<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbloAHt4Bau1GvjDbaQf0L0qJ6qVYLuzZWUl0nXkelNCvJ-a1p4lNKOxmkRtB1T3_8u-jHoCI6VVuyIN8vQ1Qn99z1i894HZn-cRteNGrdcL9uLPw0kh59jTpjIyuBMp8iTRxhY2KpH-o/s1600/DSC_0075-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbloAHt4Bau1GvjDbaQf0L0qJ6qVYLuzZWUl0nXkelNCvJ-a1p4lNKOxmkRtB1T3_8u-jHoCI6VVuyIN8vQ1Qn99z1i894HZn-cRteNGrdcL9uLPw0kh59jTpjIyuBMp8iTRxhY2KpH-o/s640/DSC_0075-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Benches are strategically placed throughout Wakehurst for reading, resting, and bored husbands :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbw8nj_y0fKOo_4yhWb_GnasZCFWBLCucsi1-NRQef0RdNuHUwS6M2UE9bAKbSdT1PaDvU8rx5_P66r0kNSQCM_uMJ0MR6fx2A3hXZihVhJDnYUTETPSCOlCQoF3o4POgvhPj6bvu9bM/s1600/DSCN5248-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbw8nj_y0fKOo_4yhWb_GnasZCFWBLCucsi1-NRQef0RdNuHUwS6M2UE9bAKbSdT1PaDvU8rx5_P66r0kNSQCM_uMJ0MR6fx2A3hXZihVhJDnYUTETPSCOlCQoF3o4POgvhPj6bvu9bM/s640/DSCN5248-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing more to say but</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh... Total Gardening Bliss<br />:)<br /><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">More information: <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-wakehurstplace">National Trust</a>, <a href="http://www.kew.org/visit-wakehurst/">Kew Wakehurst</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><center><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">More 'Obscure Garden' posts: <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/09/obscure-gardens-world-garden-of-plants.html">The World Garden Of Plants & Tom Hart Dyke</a></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Linking with: <a href="http://my3boybarians.com/">Sweet Shot Tuesday</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></center></center><br />  <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Obscure Gardens: Kew At Wakehurst

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKCall me crazybut I had been DYING to visit the Wakehurst Millennium Seed Bank for over a year,located near Gatwick Airport in West SussexIt is a joint venture with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (their 'country garden')and National Trust's most visited property, Wakehurst Plac…

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Mission Complete: The Cleanse of 2011

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the deal</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I visited home over the summer,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my friend looked so healthy, so glowing<br />and so much smaller (dropped 10 lbs)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to ask, 'What's your secret?'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'The Clean cleanse', she replied<br /><br />'oh...Darn it!...', I thought,<br />grasping for a different explanation<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmt4z_A2guxJvz5Ha38394jMdTVcb5lCfwdqRz8WDE9XM8p4Fbg0zIwgEt6Pt8yEYUN0UIiwuvK03FNpKs9KDdW455-zrEJzqwNdY7tQeS1FG7XaB8lOrtblT3ZzkroHkNzJqP41fvv0/s1600/DSCN5110-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmt4z_A2guxJvz5Ha38394jMdTVcb5lCfwdqRz8WDE9XM8p4Fbg0zIwgEt6Pt8yEYUN0UIiwuvK03FNpKs9KDdW455-zrEJzqwNdY7tQeS1FG7XaB8lOrtblT3ZzkroHkNzJqP41fvv0/s400/DSCN5110-21.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Knowing an annual detoxification has been part of many cultures,<br />I was 'on board' with a cleanse as a way to be kind to my body<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But about 15 years ago I did a <i>dreadful</i> cleanse</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just vegetable broth with supplements, </div><div style="text-align: center;">leaving me weak, shaky, grumpy, & just generally horrible</div><div style="text-align: center;">I quit in 5 days with no remorse and a trail of thankful coworkers in my wake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So you can understand why I hesitated to do another cleanse</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the curiousness got the better of me,<br />put its tendrils in my mind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so I surrendered and bought the book</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clean-Revolutionary-Program-Restore-Natural/dp/0061735337/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316247881&sr=1-1">Clean</a> by Dr Junger<br /><br />{ Plus I needed a kick in the pants to start eating healthy after the summer }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Endorsed by Gwenyth Paltrow, Outside Magazine, & other famous ones,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the book contained reasonable, sound advice<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Try to eat organically<br />Eat more fruits, veggies, fish, and nuts<br />{ Doable }<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj8Ka3T8323zEBcQ8xBEq96Vx9jgb_aVn_3nRCRTtTKObYlMTOzkQQLOgbo2toQrhC2zGhfb0-ZAtEp0t5SR_qRPvhlya68E2TCfDqqNozr7b4DwDAjfLitEdrMmU78QcWM2e1hSTyUk/s1600/DSC_0016-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj8Ka3T8323zEBcQ8xBEq96Vx9jgb_aVn_3nRCRTtTKObYlMTOzkQQLOgbo2toQrhC2zGhfb0-ZAtEp0t5SR_qRPvhlya68E2TCfDqqNozr7b4DwDAjfLitEdrMmU78QcWM2e1hSTyUk/s640/DSC_0016-61.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />But then, oh no, no...<br /><br />NO</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheat</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dairy<br />Soy<br />Eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">Processed sugar<br />Caffeine</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alcohol<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This made my dairy-loving body hide under the sheets<br />with a pillow over my head<br />yelling 'Noooo!'<br />at about the time I was due to pour that glass of wine<br />at the end of a long day<br /><br />Let's face it, there is never a good 21 day period to put your culinary life on hold<br /><br />But like an explorer, I grabbed three <strike>suckers</strike> friends for this food expedition<br />And they seem to agree with my assessment of the cleanse too:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What I feared would be almost a month of fun-free food,<br />actually was a 21 day opportunity to figure out how to eat in a new way</div><div style="text-align: center;">with the help of the delicious recipes in the back of the book,<br /><b>packed</b> with flavor<br />{ garlic, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPB7svAxA5jjP_J-qSh_w2PleHR9itj7qDuk1OPOpo9lND7oC4WDfNuxIV1ln1pNgjDH-aurLPByWu4EX5ETuASoKJvJqeG-4FiVKnbLE-PCBAw31b698wfhyezbNWkaaCIY2gCdJWhA/s1600/DSC_0025-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPB7svAxA5jjP_J-qSh_w2PleHR9itj7qDuk1OPOpo9lND7oC4WDfNuxIV1ln1pNgjDH-aurLPByWu4EX5ETuASoKJvJqeG-4FiVKnbLE-PCBAw31b698wfhyezbNWkaaCIY2gCdJWhA/s400/DSC_0025-13.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the most important things to say</div><div style="text-align: center;">is<i> I was never hungry</i><br />or grumpy<br />( well at times, sure, but not due to the cleanse )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt so nutritionally fed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I rarely craved the foods I was to avoid<br /><br />It was actually easy-peasy<br />( a little more complicated when away from home )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I confess I did have a few meals of 'vacay'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>An oreo-and-beer day with a friend {super naughty}</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A pizza and beer day with family </i></span><br />But let's just call that part of the experiment :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The way I felt the next day ( bloated, awful )</div><div style="text-align: center;">got me to jump right back on the cleanse<br /><br />*<br />Smoothie for breakfast<br />Real meal for lunch<br />Smoothie or soup for dinner<br />Snack on nuts and berries when hungry<br />*<br /><br />The idea is to have liquid meals for dinner and breakfast<br />so your body can detoxify while you sleep<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzvlkIeqoj0K1gcJL28xPkDKHuqECXlGD-oBe6iPGLsRc5vDeyTOCG5AmDJygNUk3cR0khToGgbu0mmwv9KHycguATBTaf3VDkAZweu7haPXCN3WCk-CGXKgTtjkLrWQCZh2nP6kocFM/s1600/DSC_0439-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzvlkIeqoj0K1gcJL28xPkDKHuqECXlGD-oBe6iPGLsRc5vDeyTOCG5AmDJygNUk3cR0khToGgbu0mmwv9KHycguATBTaf3VDkAZweu7haPXCN3WCk-CGXKgTtjkLrWQCZh2nP6kocFM/s400/DSC_0439-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's a peek of what I've taken from it<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Water is tasty and quenching with lemon in it</li><li style="text-align: left;">Breakfast smoothies are now a morning routine, forever</li><li style="text-align: left;">The secret ingredient for a perfect smoothie consistency is avocado</li><li style="text-align: left;">Quinoa tabbouleh and lemon marinaded kale are new favs</li><li style="text-align: left;">Dates, currents, coconut, flaxseed, almond milk, and miso are new additions to the grocery list</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Although my kids were not on the cleanse, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I sneaked in wheat & dairy alternatives when I could</div><div style="text-align: center;">- coconut milk drizzled in their porridge & rice noodles with tamari sauce-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How do I feel?</div><div style="text-align: center;">A lot lighter and certainly healthier</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We all lost weight ( I lost six lbs ) - that's always happy<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of all, I learned a heaping handful of new scrumptious recipes<br /> that gave my body a rest from the things I typically consume<br />( and we were already eating organically and very 'Whole Foodsy' before the cleanse )<br /><br />I'm totally hooked<br />and will continue to eat 'clean'<br />for breakfast and lunch<br />( back to solid meal dinners with the family again )<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBRPBteNRMu5iR3mU5Y-uiIk2vHK713oAwGyRB0G0AQdpU1pXho1mRDc_YOvLfRlUF7TXrsAybhoDJ8gDYOm4rV7NgvKWsZXymICWQo1wY-KsIIP3onrh2iVAjyzQGBnWWKtNfq1QNYE/s1600/DSCN5108-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBRPBteNRMu5iR3mU5Y-uiIk2vHK713oAwGyRB0G0AQdpU1pXho1mRDc_YOvLfRlUF7TXrsAybhoDJ8gDYOm4rV7NgvKWsZXymICWQo1wY-KsIIP3onrh2iVAjyzQGBnWWKtNfq1QNYE/s400/DSCN5108-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Now let's get all personal here<br />How do you know if you're the perfect candidate?<br /><br />Look at your poo, my friends<br />According to the book, it should be daily, odorless,<br />and the consistency and color of peanut butter<br />Gross, I know<br />And yes, I went there :)<br /><br />Would I recommend eating 'clean'? Absolutely<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. 'Clean' also sells supplements and shakes, which feels gimmicky to me. I would not recommend using these, as one would miss how to make the smoothies and soups, which for me was the most worthwhile part. I followed the book, not the website :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Note: I received nothing from 'Clean' for this post</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">- <i>all photos by me</i> -</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Mission Complete: The Cleanse of 2011

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKHere's the dealWhen I visited home over the summer,my friend looked so healthy, so glowingand so much smaller (dropped 10 lbs)I had to ask, 'What's your secret?''The Clean cleanse', she replied'oh...Darn it!...', I thought,grasping for a different explanationKnowing an an…

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A blank canvas

You might remember in my last post I mentioned I was about to start on a commission for a lovely client? Well, I thought this might be the perfect time to share a little of how I go about painting a commissioned work - before I forget all about taking pics along the way.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT5cnPY4LDBf_xWXbWQRts7k3AqWq8dXIpEYiu9tc7q8aWw6zY0UE7FTjAsz5f9UqrUEfABHZBAZdJTXQNKh2szYVkrdcuTNIDRtyE5M2SPA1LHn9qg0t8LejUjWQEMG8PmE02n2CV29A/s1600/h+canvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT5cnPY4LDBf_xWXbWQRts7k3AqWq8dXIpEYiu9tc7q8aWw6zY0UE7FTjAsz5f9UqrUEfABHZBAZdJTXQNKh2szYVkrdcuTNIDRtyE5M2SPA1LHn9qg0t8LejUjWQEMG8PmE02n2CV29A/s640/h+canvas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">here she is...a nice (big) blank canvas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>My lovely client, H, spoke to me about creating a painting for a large wall in her beautifully renovated Queenslander. If possible, I like to visit the client on-site - that way, I can get a feel for the space, the light, and the bones of the room itself. This painting will make a real statement - at 3m x 1.5m, it's a large piece, and will be on view from the minute you walk in the front door.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1TOqosnJJUDxCx2K7EwtbD_zQmAiDQwBPtKpobk6SiZnvFy2IhvF7Mp03phzQhlfOa_W7MkEro1u6AwhJMrP0ny1ncXqgeHW6P6Kru0GqlSh3dQBfXHWziKGuepNx7kOWnMCZ06GiZs-/s1600/h+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1TOqosnJJUDxCx2K7EwtbD_zQmAiDQwBPtKpobk6SiZnvFy2IhvF7Mp03phzQhlfOa_W7MkEro1u6AwhJMrP0ny1ncXqgeHW6P6Kru0GqlSh3dQBfXHWziKGuepNx7kOWnMCZ06GiZs-/s640/h+wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />We then had a chat about her ideas, what colours she'd like included - and just as importantly, any she definitely <i>didn't</i> want. She has a great mix of traditional and modern in her home, as she's retained the original charm and character of her Queenslander, but she's also included some clean, modern elements too. To complement the original VJ walls, she chose a traditional, full-blown floral curtain:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggSGDPhxVWfQuyGM_fw3xQFy5ejXlXTzq-NKXCZZH6iQCagwXD6iItbZTPIOhVnOIvZDDic12MOeRgVo74AVJQW4cvfNpleja2KCziu8flj1tPWynnTeLBXOMdxqiI2PxRjitrXV2xKQ6/s1600/h+curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggSGDPhxVWfQuyGM_fw3xQFy5ejXlXTzq-NKXCZZH6iQCagwXD6iItbZTPIOhVnOIvZDDic12MOeRgVo74AVJQW4cvfNpleja2KCziu8flj1tPWynnTeLBXOMdxqiI2PxRjitrXV2xKQ6/s640/h+curtains.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />..and picked up the olive green from the pattern, using it as an accent wall colour in the central hall, and also for the glass splashback in the kitchen. Elsewhere is a natural white, keeping things nice and airy.<br /><br /><br />So, after discussing the options, we decided on a modern abstract design, incorporating the raspberry, red/pink and olive green from her curtains, as well as some complimentary tones. Once that was sorted, I sent through a series of mock-ups of my ideas, to make sure we were on the same page, and also to provide a visual of what I'm thinking. I've found this really helps both me and the client - I'm a really visual person, but I realise not everyone works that way. By doing so, it really helps to iron out any misunderstandings before we're too far down the track.<br /><br /><br />So, that's enough from me - I have painting to do. I'll post more pics once the piece is all signed, sealed and delivered. Can't wait to share the finished painting with you all - and I have to say, it's a lot of fun to be working on such a large scale piece again. Supersizing isn't always a bad thing you know :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A blank canvas

You might remember in my last post I mentioned I was about to start on a commission for a lovely client? Well, I thought this might be the perfect time to share a little of how I go about painting a commissioned work - before I forget all about taking pics along the way.here she is...a nice (big) bl…

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Happy Hedgerows

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f2fee4;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">One thing I adore about rural England is the hedgerows that crisscross the countryside</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Just recently I grasped the importance of them</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I could just blabber on and on about them</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq7QdZAFplr3J0spDK2g6XnrEnLY1IbibWC1Q-PDP7UILSlvBXkUZFbcz4DbFaDV82XL0pjQHInLyYtchr_TZ-gx4DvwSLVFaUbgN7Irkxb1WMImgPMAgm24EgWnnZuJ1g6iQrsmKp-4/s1600/DSC_0199-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq7QdZAFplr3J0spDK2g6XnrEnLY1IbibWC1Q-PDP7UILSlvBXkUZFbcz4DbFaDV82XL0pjQHInLyYtchr_TZ-gx4DvwSLVFaUbgN7Irkxb1WMImgPMAgm24EgWnnZuJ1g6iQrsmKp-4/s640/DSC_0199-32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Hedges have been an important part of the British landscape since Roman times, and some of these hedges still survive. In the ancient countryside of Devon and Kent, the majority of existing hedges are medieval. They were a valuable part of the rural economy - marking boundaries, providing shelter, food, and timber. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">If you drive in the English countryside, try using ‘Hooper’s Rule’: count the number of tree and shrub species in a 30 yard stretch of hedge. This number will roughly equal the age of the hedge in centuries. They say this works back to 1,100 years ago. (Of course recent planted mixed hedges would be an exception.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">From 1947 to 1990, approximately 35% of hedgerows were destroyed to enable larger machinery to be used on farms. However, legislation was introduced in 1997 to protect hedgerows, which has led many hedges to be replanted or restored.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j75AtA-5UNZgI88MBOJ_m1BsyrHUalvdAxcJpmiRHy5K06oeoB3KoTVarkNStinsEAVJofYBVxWXcDY5WvZ1b7uvUmCBpRNcrqGYhhCwucrpxh86jq2K_FSBLlVxhnZg935OJ8hedD4/s1600/DSC_0375-1111_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j75AtA-5UNZgI88MBOJ_m1BsyrHUalvdAxcJpmiRHy5K06oeoB3KoTVarkNStinsEAVJofYBVxWXcDY5WvZ1b7uvUmCBpRNcrqGYhhCwucrpxh86jq2K_FSBLlVxhnZg935OJ8hedD4/s640/DSC_0375-1111_picnik.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Hedgerows act as wildlife highways for many species, including cutie-pie hedgehogs, mice, voles, bats, and foxes. Of course, flowers are wonderful for the bees, butterflies, and other insects. Wildlife nibble on berries; birds nest in branches. It is quite a remarkable vibrant ecosystem. Yep, just one long nature reserve traversing the countryside!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not only do hedges create great scenic value, they fence in livestock, clean the air next to roads, and act as a wind barrier and 'soundproofer'. As icing on the cake, they are a living wall that change color during the seasons. Makes me sing 'Laaaaa'!</span><span style="background-color: #f2fee4;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaK8uTf9-YQKLACVcqEsqOJfDMLoeLmxp22xt6PnB1y5itrmBFc4Xk84k7gwIAlZpbl2BPgAnlaGRUuqF9edceBaKGD54eT1aVrpc6hFJTe6HauYeyEAm6-Hj4ZFM-O6QeITgZ8LneKE/s1600/DSC_0342-119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaK8uTf9-YQKLACVcqEsqOJfDMLoeLmxp22xt6PnB1y5itrmBFc4Xk84k7gwIAlZpbl2BPgAnlaGRUuqF9edceBaKGD54eT1aVrpc6hFJTe6HauYeyEAm6-Hj4ZFM-O6QeITgZ8LneKE/s640/DSC_0342-119.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">An old English native hedge would have included a large variety of plantings. Hornbeam, beech, hawthorn, blackthorn, sweet briar rose, dogwood, hazel, and field maple still are used today. Throw in some holly, pyracantha, privet, viburnum, current, laurel, crabapple and/or spindleberry for a berry smorgasbord. Then dig in another ‘understory’ of plants and ferns to fill in at the bottom for a beautiful garden and animal refuge. Maintain it regularly to keep it healthy and thick (ooh, those are smoothie adjectives).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NnH-PKhZ8DJhFDeX2jiZlVP3FjMOpngj4DYwJoTstBsV3MjHSldcyBexOccwJy6mW_o9WGlBA5Ttz8YTDcDZUEqMqcksKIuD4BfOzjYAYhrF1R1AvQ-MmDz5s1jc7_bYN948CRgtKC4/s1600/IMG_1503-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NnH-PKhZ8DJhFDeX2jiZlVP3FjMOpngj4DYwJoTstBsV3MjHSldcyBexOccwJy6mW_o9WGlBA5Ttz8YTDcDZUEqMqcksKIuD4BfOzjYAYhrF1R1AvQ-MmDz5s1jc7_bYN948CRgtKC4/s640/IMG_1503-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There are more than 30 styles of hedge-laying in different parts of the UK, depending on the climate of the area, local farming practices, soil condition, and types of trees and shrubs that grow well in the area. A few styles of hedge-laying are named ‘Midland Bullock’, ‘Welch Border’, and ‘Derbyshire’. And those names are not from Detroit, my friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2fee4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmb6uxeDkiWL1Tksz1Bn1jfkkTZPrtHsMMSg1VQLi3ruPwiWuedpyXbgzLoZifaDpRemIJsOp-NELms9Vq82aK77FAbl2RidxWheBNbZM5I4RltzgG1hgjdHy-fclOtJMYw7vt48pd3c/s1600/IMG_1510-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmb6uxeDkiWL1Tksz1Bn1jfkkTZPrtHsMMSg1VQLi3ruPwiWuedpyXbgzLoZifaDpRemIJsOp-NELms9Vq82aK77FAbl2RidxWheBNbZM5I4RltzgG1hgjdHy-fclOtJMYw7vt48pd3c/s640/IMG_1510-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Have I infected you with 'hedge-love' yet?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Funny thing is, I thought I wouldn't have any photos for this post</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Turns out, I've been clicking away at hedgerows since we moved here</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Therefore, I can say...</span></span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white;">all photos by me</i></span></span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: <a href="http://hedging.co.uk/">hedging.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/">hedgesdirect.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.habitataid.co.uk/">habitataid.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.hedgerows.co.uk/">hedgerows.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/">hedgelaying.org.uk</a></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Linking to: <a href="http://my3boybarians.com/">Sweet Shot Tuesday</a></span></div><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Happy Hedgerows

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKOne thing I adore about rural England is the hedgerows that crisscross the countrysideJust recently I grasped the importance of themI could just blabber on and on about themHedges have been an important part of the British landscape since Roman times, and some of these he…

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Stripe me lucky

Black and white is a classic combo that never goes out of fashion. Throw them together into a stripe, and it's even better. I've been seeing this pic all over the place lately, and it was love at first sight:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjMQ8nqzdSVrLpuol9zI08XJZPoj6Z3lMkWULhkfvVMdGi-xFNTu5i8HoijdhmF9ywNYsxLmgAUJ_VBPXSuJcdP436O3o5PsuVqWWQPf0ulMIZG1oHSzhAkMLwfaOKlU36S3yo92m9cfH/s1600/Liz+Caan+Studio+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjMQ8nqzdSVrLpuol9zI08XJZPoj6Z3lMkWULhkfvVMdGi-xFNTu5i8HoijdhmF9ywNYsxLmgAUJ_VBPXSuJcdP436O3o5PsuVqWWQPf0ulMIZG1oHSzhAkMLwfaOKlU36S3yo92m9cfH/s640/Liz+Caan+Studio+1a.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">is this not the most gorgeous storefront ever? It belongs to designer <a href="http://lizcaan.com/">Liz Caan</a>. Perfection.</div><br />I love black and white awnings. So fresh, yet chic and classic at the same time. And how better to frame a lovely window, or door, than with one of these arrangements.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFslfEJc-rXLYb63X4AZbv7vTs6qzzRGLfaJhIDICYvbJDRQ2UYr-TQbGkWAWeoe0cGX7io28WHPhY5vA5ijDlqS0j51Ac4hRprrgrv8OAk1zPqRWZjqKyd1wGL1neP7eg7RgOcFZjf9W/s1600/sibella16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFslfEJc-rXLYb63X4AZbv7vTs6qzzRGLfaJhIDICYvbJDRQ2UYr-TQbGkWAWeoe0cGX7io28WHPhY5vA5ijDlqS0j51Ac4hRprrgrv8OAk1zPqRWZjqKyd1wGL1neP7eg7RgOcFZjf9W/s640/sibella16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sibella Court's shop, The Society Inc. Love the green door too....and that it won't stay that way for long - she changes its colour often. Brilliant</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RFctHUXbBZMgti4LUnLL1rx2t1W-wGMVcXwp6dgyQbvRsH8N8202oNkgPNjomSdBFuifBKR_LCFT6Sqg4F-0gcD1YL8TOWzNF8gdA0s-TFFF2zZQbMao8TlOwL9DX56yLmL3rE4L-SxQ/s1600/nathanturnerstorefront_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RFctHUXbBZMgti4LUnLL1rx2t1W-wGMVcXwp6dgyQbvRsH8N8202oNkgPNjomSdBFuifBKR_LCFT6Sqg4F-0gcD1YL8TOWzNF8gdA0s-TFFF2zZQbMao8TlOwL9DX56yLmL3rE4L-SxQ/s640/nathanturnerstorefront_2.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Nathan Turner is starring in my new fave show, Million Dollar Decorators. Of course we're late to the party here in Australia, but I don't care. Loving it sick.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8fIw5vXBATyTI8xIY3hwr5PU2sOMRuY_eCsasDCYvxO95Y_BSTFTrgsa8T5caMy9-qqPjT2orWU7EblxMrtlIsITgaYa2mXNACgOjxfxTBWqHl6rFKc5HCQtnzZjUDtHTpup4rY2GgG8/s1600/after2.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8fIw5vXBATyTI8xIY3hwr5PU2sOMRuY_eCsasDCYvxO95Y_BSTFTrgsa8T5caMy9-qqPjT2orWU7EblxMrtlIsITgaYa2mXNACgOjxfxTBWqHl6rFKc5HCQtnzZjUDtHTpup4rY2GgG8/s640/after2.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Double the good stuff. </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5oYZFVYTJYMyNFJhTh5MXyvbcEw4R3yTe8rMLiDqrHeUghrTp3VPI5WcqRUTwFMMpSDpALQl-VwIUdr1F1WBoZDdY09hU2XqCAoBvVjjOJTJXkF65YSqDQeyNYAVMHzNFtJA19BYw1Rf/s1600/0809hgnswcottageslide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5oYZFVYTJYMyNFJhTh5MXyvbcEw4R3yTe8rMLiDqrHeUghrTp3VPI5WcqRUTwFMMpSDpALQl-VwIUdr1F1WBoZDdY09hU2XqCAoBvVjjOJTJXkF65YSqDQeyNYAVMHzNFtJA19BYw1Rf/s640/0809hgnswcottageslide1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Love the awning and the pooch</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7fjYWfm3WD6_3S4etBDaNC_9weNhB2bwoWcjaSn3FuzjetmfU2FvgTIfWhlA8-cx8Vy95gmD6BmF-waxahrKJK4kC2pHcIsC0gh5vvc4OyyJDFlES2uKdF1TKoQbqovUYoPr8rk2y7jx/s1600/tyler+florence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7fjYWfm3WD6_3S4etBDaNC_9weNhB2bwoWcjaSn3FuzjetmfU2FvgTIfWhlA8-cx8Vy95gmD6BmF-waxahrKJK4kC2pHcIsC0gh5vvc4OyyJDFlES2uKdF1TKoQbqovUYoPr8rk2y7jx/s640/tyler+florence.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgpExCx_w44cWC2XYZJ3evMkitiYYwphnm0EV0-O3lcjzu2FP1lgSTMXLRpQipw-GlAi5-Owuqe9K1Q10h01Gv_lUZqrrbSixHB336HSO5g7HXEe2wF3U1NYBe247lAiv1-BUPzHsRoH-/s1600/black+and+white+awning+country+style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgpExCx_w44cWC2XYZJ3evMkitiYYwphnm0EV0-O3lcjzu2FP1lgSTMXLRpQipw-GlAi5-Owuqe9K1Q10h01Gv_lUZqrrbSixHB336HSO5g7HXEe2wF3U1NYBe247lAiv1-BUPzHsRoH-/s640/black+and+white+awning+country+style.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And best of all, it completes an Aussie beach house to perfection. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>So, are you a fan of black and white? Love it, or (heaven forbid!!) hate it?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image sources: <a href="http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/liz-caans-design-studio-tour.html">1</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=the+society+inc+shop&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=cKQIvbYR2ecW7M:&imgrefurl=http://chalk-jenny.blogspot.com/2010/05/shop-love.html&docid=iSCLBeREvs1ZrM&w=475&h=309&ei=FJxyTt-VJebymAWzrPCZCg&zoom=1">2</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=black+and+white+striped+awning+nathan+turner+design&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=i2ebsWsdqAjSwM:&imgrefurl=http://www.saragilbaneinteriors.com/travelfordesign/category/books/&docid=p9Vf4yenkAJOkM&w=377&h=432&ei=AJlyTpLWFcOJmQWr_MC9DQ&zoom=1">3</a>, 4, <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=black+and+white+striped+shop+awnings&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=odza0sM2jqQ3nM:&imgrefurl=http://www.emmaclements.com/2009/11/shop-dreaming.html&docid=36L8vm9wwdmMtM&w=300&h=400&ei=lphyTqa3EMOJmQWr_MC9DQ&zoom=1">5</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=black+and+white+striped+shop+awnings&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=mtdw1V6BUM7lTM:&imgrefurl=http://artfulplay.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekend-shopping-up-north.html&docid=Rod6CFlb1o6yWM&w=1600&h=1200&ei=lphyTqa3EMOJmQWr_MC9DQ&zoom=1">6</a>, <a href="http://brownbutton.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-weekend-wishes-of-2009.html">7</a></span>

Stripe me lucky

Black and white is a classic combo that never goes out of fashion. Throw them together into a stripe, and it's even better. I've been seeing this pic all over the place lately, and it was love at first sight:is this not the most gorgeous storefront ever? It belongs to designer Liz Caan. Perfection.I…

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